Petra

Aqaba is the first city you'll encounter once you cross the Israeli- Jordanian border and head towards Petra. 'This city carries the relaxed small-town atmosphere of a popular local getaway. The town offers a sociable stopover en route to the diving and snorkelling clubs to the south and the big destinations of Wadi Rum and Petra. It’s also an obvious place to break a journey to or from Israel and the Palestinian Territories or Egypt' (National Geographic).

Most tourist packages for Petra include one or two nights in Aqaba, and then a two-hour journey to reach the city of Petra. We've decided to use the 'Petra from Israel' tour operator, and we were very satisfied with the service we had. Our guide was truly interesting and knowledgeable.

Once we were dropped off the coach, the wake to the actual historical Petra takes about an hour, depending on your pace. You need to be careful as the narrow streets are full of horse-drawn buggies for tourists and loads of travellers on foot. Don't forget to wear sun cream and a hat. The sun is pretty aggressive in the Middle East, especially in summer!

Petra is a historical and archaeological city in southern Jordan. The city is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system. Another name for Petra is the Rose City due to the colour of the stone out of which it is carved.

Established possibly as early as 312 BC as the capital city of the Arab Nabataeans, it is a symbol of Jordan, as well as Jordan's most-visited tourist attraction. The Nabataeans were nomadic Arabs who took advantage of Petra's proximity to regional trade routes to establish it as a major trading hub. The Nabataeans are also known for their great ability in constructing efficient water-collecting methods in the barren deserts and their talent in carving structures into solid rocks